Piedmont selects Matrix Service to build LNG facility

Piedmont Natural Gas announced that it has selected Matrix Service Inc., a subsidiary of Matrix Service Company, to build its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Robeson County, North Carolina.

The facility will help Piedmont Natural Gas continue providing customers with a reliable supply of natural gas during peak usage days when extremely low temperatures create a higher-than-normal demand for natural gas.

The 1 billion-cubic-foot (Bcf) storage facility will cover approximately 60 acres of a 685-acre piece of Piedmont-owned property. Construction is expected to begin in May of 2019 with an estimated completion date in the summer of 2021.

“Our highest priority is the safety of our natural gas infrastructure, our communities and our employees,” said Frank Yoho, president of natural gas operations at Duke Energy, the parent company of Piedmont Natural Gas. “The contractor we selected had to share our emphasis on safety, offer proven excellence in this specialized construction, and commit to minimize disruption to our neighbors in Robeson County.”

“As an industry leader in low-temperature and cryogenic tanks and terminals, we are very pleased to have been awarded this important project,” said Matrix Service Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, John R. Hewitt. “We look forward to delivering this project safely, on time and on budget.”

The LNG facility is expected to create up to 150 jobs during construction and 10 to 12 permanent jobs to manage operations. The project will provide more than USD 800,000 annually in tax revenue to Robeson County.